Academic Year Housing

Move In

Students with confirmed housing will receive an email to sign up for a move in appointment. Students will be expected to arrive during their move in appointment. Below are the Move In days: 

• New Resident Move In: Thursday, January 9, 2025 

Please be sure to plan flights and arrival times accordingly. Early or late arrivals cannot be accommodated. 

Packing Lists

To learn more about what is included in each housing option and what you should bring, please view our packing lists:

• Residence Hall Packing List

• Park West Packing List

Housing Orientation (Attendance Required)

Housing orientation will take place on the days listed below. This is a required meeting for all residential students, as we will introduce the staff, review policies, and provide important details about living with us.

• New Resident Housing Orientation | Thursday, January 9  (evening, Time TBD)

Additional details will be sent to students with a confirmed place in housing.

COVID-19 Protocols

We will be providing students with an orientation to explain all requirements, expectations, and safety protocols.  Otis College follows the guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:

• Vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended. Otis College continues to stress the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines and will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccine clinics throughout the school year. 
• COVID-19 Testing. Any students experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested through the Student Health and Wellness Center for free.

Policies 

Students should view The Student Handbook and Hallway Handbook for a full list of policies students are expected to follow while living in housing. COVID-19 policies are subject to change based on guidelines from Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. 

Renters Insurance

Park West residents are required to purchase renters insurance and will have to show proof of renters insurance prior to move in. Residence Hall residents are strongly encouraged to purchase renters insurance. Residence Life and Housing recommends GradGuard Renters Insurance.

Damage Deposit

For Park West Students Only. Students living at Park West are required to pay a $300 damage deposit, This payment is seperate from the student's account. We do require having this payment on file prior to a student moving. The damage deposit is refundable, less damage and/or move-out charges apply, at the end of the academic year. Upon moving in, students will complete a Room Condition Report, noting any damages or problems with their space.

When a student moves out, they will complete a similar form updating us on any damages or problems. Staff will walk the space once all students leave for one final assessment. Residence Life and Housing will compare the forms and then assess any charges to the students' accounts. Once this is completed, damage deposits will be returned to the student’s preferred refund selection through BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc.

Local Hotels

• Hotel June | 8639 Lincoln Blvd, LA 90045

Hotel June is walking distance from campus, making it the nearest hotel.  Use the code OTIS for an Otis College discount. 

---

Shopping 

Grocery Stores

• Ralph's | 8701 Lincoln Blvd - across the street from campus
• Bristol Farms | 8448 Lincoln Blvd - a quick walk from campus
• Trader Joe's | 8645 S Sepulveda Blvd - a 5 minute drive from campus
• Costco | 13463 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 - a 15 minute drive from campus

Home Supplies

• Target | 8900 S Sepulveda Blvd - a 5 minute drive from campus
• Kohl's | 8739 S Sepulveda Blvd - a 5 minute drive from campus
• IKEA | 20700 S Avalon Blvd Carson, CA 90746 - a 20 minute drive from campus
• The Container Store | 710 S Sepulveda Blvd El Segundo, CA 90245 - a 15 minute drive from campus

Art and Design Supplies

• Graphaids | on campus
• Blick's Art Supply Store | 2602 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405  - a 20 minute drive from campus
• Michael's | 3340 W Century Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90303 - a 15 minute drive from campus
• Home Depot | 12975 W Jefferson Blvd - a 6 minute drive from campus

Exploring Los Angeles

Learn about the museums, cultural events, and other aspects of LA here.

Residential Engagement

Students are assigned Resident Assistants (RAs) in each housing location. The RAs serve as a resource for students as they transition to their new home and navigate Otis College. In addition, the RAs foster and develop community among residential students through dialogue, engagement, and programming! Some programs that have been coordinated in the past include:

• Game/Movie Nights
• Bob Ross Painting Sessions
• Disco Night
• Caricature Drawing
• Adventure Time Roundtable Readings

These programs are ways to connect with other residential students. We encourage students to attend these events to connect with others and to build new friendships. If students are excited about a potential program idea, we encourage them to reach out to their RA to discuss planning! Follow our Instagram @otis.housing to keep connected with updates and programming.

Culture of Inclusion

Residence Life and Housing strives to create an inclusive living environment that honors the intersections of all identities. The professional staff and RAs are trained on various topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to be prepared to support our students. Additionally, our staff engages in conversations on Otis’ DEI Statement and 10 points to promote a more equitable campus that welcomes and celebrates every Otis student. To read more about Oti’s DEI Statement and 10 points, click here.

Campus Involvement

Clubs and Organizations

Another way for students to be involved on campus is to join a campus club/organization. These clubs and organizations are student-led and create fun programs and activities for students. Learn more about the different opportunities to join here. 

Campus Activities Board (CAB)

CAB is composed of student leaders that work to enhance and unify the Otis college community by coordinating, overseeing, and executing all student led campus activities. All members of CAB provide leadership and support to fellow CAB members and student led campus activities. These programs and activities are open to all students and is an additional way for students to connect with other Otis peers. Learn more about CAB here. Stay connected with CAB on Instagram @Otiscab.

Safety and Security

Campus Safety is present on campus 24/7. Students can contact the office at 310.665.6965. While we are in a safe neighborhood within Los Angeles, we still recommend the following to keep our community safe:

• Sign up for Live Safe. Live Safe is an app that allows students to share information with Campus Safety, provides notifications of emergency situations, and allows for SafeWalk (someone can view your walk to another location). 
• Always close and lock your door when leaving your apartment/suite.
• Do not let any unrecognized individuals into the building. If a person lives there, they should be able to access it.
• Use the buddy system when exploring Los Angeles beyond the campus.

Residence Life and Housing will start confirming housing spaces in the middle of May. Here is a list of other important dates:

March 1 - The application opens March 1 and additional details on the process can be found here.

March 10 - Continuing students will receive housing priority as long as their housing application fee is paid by March 10 AND the online housing application is submitted by March 13.

May 15 - New students will receive housing priority as long as their housing application fee is paid by May 15 AND the online housing application is submitted by May 17.

June 15 (Continuing Students) and July 1 (New Students) - If a confirmed students does not meet the housing payment deadlines you will forfeit your housing confirmation and be placed on a waitlist until you are in good financial standing:

Early August - Students will receive their housing assignment and roommate information in early August.

The first thing to do is to recommend that person to reach out to the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) for evaluation of their symptoms at 310-846-5738. The second thing is to care for your own health while being supportive. This is not the time to discriminate against and/or isolate those who may be sick (and who may be anxious about it).

The Office of Student Affairs is prepared to support students in campus housing and is actively monitoring COVID-19. Residence Life and Housing will assist residential students who are deemed by the L.A. County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) as being in need of isolation and/or quarantine. Any residential student who is directed to isolate or quarantine will order food through the GET app that will be delivered twice a day.

Students who do not have a meal plan will be required to purchase food through the GET app. Students may also request trash pick ups and mail deliveries. The SHWC will continue to monitor students in isolation and/or quarantine frequently. At the time a student is directed to be in isolation and/or quarantined, Residence Life and Housing staff will provide the student with additional details and information. All questions regarding isolation and/or quarantine processes within housing should be directed to studenthousing@otis.edu or 310-846-2647.